There are lots of reasons to make the right choices in window coverings. Mistakes can be expensive, unless you opt for low-cost ready-mades, which come with their own set of challenges.

Draperies and blinds tend to cover large swathes of wall, and are typically in use for many years — and that’s a long time to look at something you don’t like. Most importantly, the wrong treatment won’t enhance the functionality of a room, as will the appropriate product.

So how to choose correctly? First of all, by considering the function, says Mary Dobson, spokesperson for Levolor. “There are so many variables,” she says. “Do you need privacy? Have hardwood floors that need to be protected from light? Is it security? Do I only want to pull down blinds when I am away so people can’t look in? Start with those questions.”

Then there are issues like noise, says Scott Hingston, a vice president in Sears Canada’s decor and flooring department. “And what about kids or pets? If you have them, you probably don’t want cords. Will they be hard to reach, and would you benefit from a power rise?”

It’s also important to look at how the product is made, says Morrison. “The lining is massive, because it affects the light and the heat. It also helps with the structure and brings out the detail on patterned fabrics. Then there’s lighting control, which can be a big deal, especially if you works shifts.”

Dobson, who also teaches in Georgian College’s two-year design program, offers a few guiding rules, which include continuity on a home’s front facade. “Every window from the street should look consistent, especially on the horizontal. They can be slightly different on an upper level, but I am always leery of mixing,” she says.

Dobson also insists on consistency of style. “Typically, you don’t want to vary wildly from room to room. If it’s a more minimal look, roller shades can work to achieve that — even though they can be done in many different materials. For a traditional space, I look at layers.”

Price is almost always a factor, so all three suggest a good/better/best plan to focus the budget on the principal rooms. “Showrooms and public rooms like the living room are where you want to make a statement. In a kid’s bedroom, you can do something more affordable,” says Hingston.

The more money being spent, the more neutral the treatment should be, suggests Dobson. “I won’t do a crazy colour in an expensive blind, says Dobson, who often uses them as a foundation layer to which decorative draperies can be added.

That’s music to the ears of Morrison, who started an online business in 2000 with a cache of vintage fabric that became wildly popular around the world for various decor applications, including windows treatments, which now account for half of her business.

That’s part of the reason the company is moving to a larger warehouse and taking on new challenges, such as launching an exclusive line of locally-designed fabrics later in the year.

In terms of trends, Morrison says she has fewer requests for the “puddling” that emerged in the ’90s. “It’s more of a tailored look, just grazing the floor or breaking like a well-tailored trouser on a dress shoe.” She’s heard rumours of balloon valances making a comeback, but Morrison doesn’t see that flying. “Too fussy,” she says.

“People are more willing to mix florals and geometrics now, and there’s a global influence that you see in Indian block prints and medallions. In terms of colour, grey has been incredibly enduring. But iIt’s still pretty bold for someone to invest in large-scale pattern or colour for window treatments,” says Morrison.

Sometimes, though, Morrison encounters a client who’s ready to embrace colour. “We do get homeowners who say, ‘I don’t care what the rules are, I am going to go with this fabric because it makes my heart sing when I come into the room.’ ”

Because she thinks perfect fit is vitally important, Dobson suggests going to a window covering store with drawings before buying. Better yet, she says, use a store that offers a shop at home service, preferably one that swallows the cost of the visit if you order from them.

For reliable off-the-shelf options, look to such retailers as Ikea, Bouclair, Lowes, and Linen Chest, which has opened its first Toronto location in Leaside.

Factors to be aware of when buying ready-made, says Morrison, are length, which may be shorter than ideal, and width. “They’re often too narrow, which means they fall flat like a bed sheet when drawn. That’s not the look you want.”

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